In Reply to: Re: Self defence perhaps? posted by ray on December 01, 2003 at 04:06:29:
You musn't forget that Christ was to go to his terrible death like a lamb to the slaughter. He didn't want his disciples to resist on his behalf. To everything, there is a season and sometimes our responce needs to be non-resistance, and at other times we resist. Knowing which action to take requires being sensitive to the Holy Spirit.
In this particular instance, Christ intended to go peacefully to fullfill his father's will to die for our sins on the cross. At the same time, he wanted his disciples to have the tools of personal defense. When you "rightly divide the word of truth" the seeming dcontradictions and enegmas usually disappear.